bushido_man96

Nice. I may have to look into one, then. Have you thought about strapping two to the Wavemaster, so that you can do different levels and combinations?

Hehe...not terribly likely, but we'll see....

Here's a good one: http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=CFDJDnAOKrA I laughed my butt off!

I think that having a mindset is important, though. I am not going in with my Hapkido mindset, where I am thinking "ok, I know all this stuff, but here we will approach it differently." I am approaching it with the mindset that this stuff will help me learn more self-defense. Now, I am not forsaking all of my other knowledge, either. Things like how to move efficiently, etc. But, if they show my something different, then I will work on it, and accept that it has some value. Then, I can take what I know about combat movement, and see where it fits in. I won't be totally mindless, but I won't go pushing my knowledge around, either. As far as the Eastern ideas of not having the mindset to begin with, well, as many here already know, I have never been much for Eastern thought processes. They are great for some, but just not for me.

Nice pics. I never really thought about it, but there isn't a lot of continuity there. Still, the games were a blast.

Cool. There are a lot of micro breweries out there. I'm sure some of those were collected on road trips where some of those places are.

My kids are going as the pair from Greese. It should be a good time.

I love looking at winter scenes. Seeing the cold like that is just really cool to me (excuse the pun...).

I thought this one was cool: http://www.toxel.com/inspiration/2008/10/11/collection-of-incredible-lego-creations/ I love Legos! I told my parents that I got some Legos for my son, and my dad said: "you got Legos for who...????" He knows me too well! How about that rendition of Yankee Stadium, Patrick?

Cool creativity.

Now that really looks very cool. Quite a story line, too.

Karate practitioners are probably more likely to refer to it as Ki, which is the Japanese interpretation of the word. As far as focusing it, many use meditation, and some use the force of the body generating power to manifest it.

Congrats!

Way to go!

As far as using clothing as a tool, I might use a jacket to fend off a knife or cover a gun or someone's head, but that's probably about it.

Either way you look at it, this is bad publicity. Its hard to tell who is telling the truth here. Dana White had some good comments in there, as well.

Better to hold it off, and get it right the first time, than throw together something that will backfire on them. Hopefully in time, they get it worked out.

It is nice to be able to cut loose and be yourself every now and then. Good for you, white owl.

Its unfortunate really that the way that some people approach the Martial Arts doesn't make them as beneficial as they could be for self-defense. In my opinion, they should be the same. But, it isn't always so. Hock Hockheim has some thoughts on bigger/faster/stronger people, and having to defend one-self against them. He talks about 15%, I think is the number...15% bigger, stronger, etc. Once you get to that point, you really will find it much more of a struggle to match their strength, etc, and will need to even things up in some way, like with a stick, or a dirty tactic, or something of the like. Fighting multiples will always be a crap shoot. The main reason that people partake in gang-beatdown is because it works. There is a very high success rate. Best to learn how to avoid such situations at all costs.

I don't have one. I have always wondered how well they would hold up. I think they would be a great tool to work hook kicks, heel kicks, and crescent kicks, as well as round kicks. Do you have any problems with it coming undone, and falling off?

Welcome to KF!

Here is a thread on Tai Chi that you may find of interest: Tai Chi and Combat Effectiveness

Really? What's not to understand? Aikido in this group is not taught / promoted as a self defence system. But, the study of it will engender good skills that will naturally improve your ability to protect yourself. Its more of a useful bye product however, rather than the primary reason to study it. I don't think that this makes it right, though. I think of Aikido as a self-defense art. I feel that someone who claims to teach a Martial Art in the way that the mission statement you posted states, then they are using a misguided definition of the term Martial Arts. I practice Aikido also, but with a self-defense attitude and mindset. I have even made cross overs from the Aikido class into my Defensive Tactics training. I think it is the way that Martial Arts are designed to be.

I think that is also another trap that the non-contact style of sparring leads one into. There is a very false sense of security that he is developing there, by not having to actually respect the hand techniques that you are throwing. Yes, being flexible in style is a very good thing.

Our Aikido class begins with a brief medatitive period of focused breathing. I don't really care for it, though. I do it, because the rest of the class is, but while everyone is sitting there with their eyes closed, breathing, I find myself opening my eyes and looking around, wondering when class is going to start. I think it is just time better spent working technique.